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Chapter 8

Therapeutic Relationships

Concepts of the Nurse-Patient


Relationship

Basis of all psychiatric nursing treatment


approaches

To establish that the nurse is


Safe
Confidential
Reliable
Consistent

Relationship with clear boundaries

Essential Elements of the


Therapeutic Relationship

Trust factors; consistency, and clear


expectations

Professionalism - through knowledge of


psychiatric problems and ability to intervene
effectively

Mutual respect Stress that people with


mental illness are no less human or deserving
of respect

Caring (empathy, genuineness, unconditional


positive regard)

Partnership not paternalism

The ability to establish therapeutic


relationships with clients is one of the
most important skills a nurse can develop

Therapeutic Use of Self


Use

personality consciously and in


full awareness

Attempt

to establish relatedness

Structure

nursing interventions

Goals and Functions


Facilitate

communication of distressing
thoughts and feelings

Assist

patient with problem solving

Help

patient examine self-defeating


behaviors and test alternatives

Promote

self-care and independence

Social Relationships
Initiated

for the purpose of


friendship, socialization,
enjoyment, or accomplishment of a
task

Mutual

needs are met

Communication

to give advice, give

or ask for help


Content

of communication
superficial

Therapeutic Relationships
Needs

of patient identified and


explored

Clear

boundaries established

Problem-solving
New

approaches taken

coping skills developed

Behavioral

change encouraged

Necessary Behaviors for Nurses


Accountability
Focus

on patients needs

Clinical

competence

Delaying

judgment

Supervision
Acceptance

of person, not
necessarily his or her
behavior

Establishing Boundaries
Physical
The

boundaries

contract

Personal

space

Blurring of Boundaries
When

relationship slips into social


context

When

nurses needs are met at expense


of patients needs

Blurring of Roles

Transference patient unconsciously and


inappropriately displaces onto nurse feelings and
behaviors related to significant figures in patients
past

Transference intensified in relationships of


authority

Countertransference nurse displaces feelings


related to people in nurses past onto patient

Patients transference to nurse often results in


countertransference in nurse

Common sign of countertransference in nurse is


over-identification with the patient

Values, Beliefs, and SelfAwareness


Nurses

values and beliefs

Reflect

own culture/subculture

Derived

from range of choices

Chosen

from a variety of influences and


role models

Peplaus Model of Nurse-Patient


Relationship
Orientation

phase
Working phase
Termination phase

Orientation Phase
Establishing rapport and build a foundation
for further work
Introductions and setting parameters of the
relationship
Formal or informal contract (determining the
main problem)
Confidentiality
Terms of termination

Working Phase
Maintain
Gather

relationship

further data

Promote

clients

Problem-solving

skills

Self-esteem
Use

of language

Available

resources

Working Phase (Cont.)


Facilitate

behavioral change

Overcome

resistant behaviors

Evaluate

problems and goals

Redefine
Promote

them as necessary

practice and expression


of alternative adaptive behaviors

Termination Phase
Summarize

goals and objectives

achieved
Discuss

ways for patient to


incorporate new coping strategies
learned

Review

situations of relationship

Exchange

memories

Factors That Help


Nurse-Patient Relationship

Consistency

Pacing

Listening

Initial impressions

Promoting patient comfort and balancing


control

Patient factors include


Trust
Active

participation

Factors That Promote Patient


Growth

Genuineness

Empathy (not sympathy)

Positive regard
Attitudes
Actions

Attending

Suspending value judgments

Helping patients develop resources

Obstacles to Establishing a
Therapeutic Relationship
Confronting

and judgmental

attitude
Excessive

probing

Lack

of self-awareness

Poor

communication skills

Inability

to differentiate data
collection from assessment

Question 1
A nurse seeks to establish a
relationship with a patient readmitted
to the hospital. The patient has
bipolar disorder, depressed type, and
was hospitalized the preceding
month. Which statement by the nurse
would contribute to establishing trust?

Question 1 (Cont.)
A. Werent you complying with your medication
regimen?
B. It must be discouraging to be readmitted to the
hospital so soon.
C. Everyone with bipolar disorder ends up in the
hospital occasionally.
D. You must take your drugs as prescribed or you
will be re-hospitalized.

Audience Response Questions


1. A client tells the nurse, I have something
secret to tell you, but you cant tell anyone
else. The nurse agrees. What is the likely
consequence of the nurses action?
A. Healthy feelings of sympathy by the nurse toward
the client.
B. Blurred boundaries in the nurse-client
relationship.
C. Improved rapport between the nurse and client.
D. Enhanced trust between the nurse and client.

Audience Response Questions


2. A nurse spends extra time with a client
who has personality features similar to
the nurses estranged spouse. Which
aspect of countertransference is most
likely to result?
A. Over-involvement
B. Misuse of honesty
C. Indifference
D. Rescue

Audience Response Questions


3. A client preparing for discharge
presents the nurse with a
handmade card of appreciation for
the care this nurse provided.
Should the nurse accept the card?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Not sure

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